‘Pirate’ names accomplices

A suspected pirate, who was arrested at Igbokoda, Ondo State, has named some highly-placed Nigerians as some of the backers of his group. The suspect, who is being detained in an undisclosed place, has named some of his accomplices, who the police have declared wanted.

One of the suspects was said to have scaled the wall of his house when security agents attempted to arrest him last weekend.

According to a source, the suspected kingpin, known as Wazobia was arrested after a gun duel that lasted for about 35 minutes.

The combined team shortly after, also raided the pirates’ training camp where they apprehended 13 others after some resistance.

Recovered at the camp were explosive devices, long range high calibre weapons, about 10,000 ammunition of various types and other dangerous items.

The security agents also recovered an operational map indicating that the hijackers were planning to launch another attack on the high seas.

The suspects, particularly their leader, it was learnt, made useful statements to the police.

The leader of the gang told the security operatives that he and his men had hijacked close to 20 fully loaded vessels on the high seas, in the last 10 months.

According to the prime suspect, no fewer than 24 persons, including three foreigners and uniformed men had been killed by the gang.

The major suspect, it was learnt, also named about three other storage facilities where stolen oil was being deposited for onward distribution.

One of the facilities located in Apapa, Lagos, had been sealed off by the government, as its top management staff were arrested and questioned.

Security agents are currently mounting surveillance on the others.

Wazobia said the last vessel hijacking operation he took part in with some of his boys, was about two weeks ago, where he said they killed a foreigner on board and also took some money in hard currencies.

The prime suspect gave the name of the affected vessel as M . T. Rosatomassos.

As a result of pressures from prominent Nigerians to have the suspect released from detention, the military high command has moved the detainees to one of the Brigade commands, in the North, it was learnt.

Wazobia disclosed that they often recruited men from neighboring countries such as Ghana, Benin Republic, Togo, Chad, Niger, and Burkina Faso. Training often took place in some locations n Nigeria.